Thanks for the site Buffy... I'll definitely check them out. I'll call my Herbalist to see how much they sell them for first... I need to tell my sister about these she is having bladder problems as well...

TJ

Bought some Vitamin E. I am using Estring right now and worried that maybe I couldn't use them together so I didn't put it up inside, so I thought why not just take on 400 mg by mouth. Last night I had loose stools and globs of oil in the toilet. (sorry tmi) I had taken my supplement of calcium, magnesium the night before so maybe the magnesium and the vitamin E do not do well together.

Does anyone know if Estring and vitamin E are ok to use together vaginally? I am still so irritated externally.

Magnesium blocks the absorption of fat, that's probably what happened.

Well, I feel about 75% better. I used a Vitaman E suppository last eve and I must be dry, didn't even need an "Always"! Thank you SKEEWEEAKA, for the tips.

I will do one more tonight then hold off for PAP on the 2nd. I also think it is great you can do HRT's. As you said and I agree, get tested faithfully and live your life pain free.

Called the Pharmacy who told me I can use the vitamin E vaginally and it will not interfere with the Estring. I am glad.

I'm sure its fine, but ask your doctor. Just remember they tend to POO POO anything that isn't a pharmeucutical drug.....I take take tons of vitamins, but I only do the vitamin suppositories.......most people get enough of vitamin e via their food, and too much vitamin(as far as taking it in your mouth) can be toxic. I tried the estrace & the premarin cream and it NOTHING except rob me of 59$ each tube. When you use the vitamin e suppositories....especially since you insert them at night(I do mine when I am in bed) when you pp the next monring..you might see oily water(vitamin e is oily) but its way less messy than any of those creams....

Hi, I'm new here. I too have severe atrophic vaginitis and saw your suggestion for Weleda-calendula baby cream. I live in the US and never heard of this product. I see you're from WA state. Did you purchase this product from a health food store or from a web site?

Hi, I'm new here and am very interested in these suppostories. Question, Have you ever heard of anyone having an adverse reaction to them? Thanks, Cleverlee from NJ

Never. I mean its just vitamin e, glycerin & wax. I suppose someone can be allergic to Anything---I became allergic to all kinds of things when I began perimenopause.....I have several different kinds of skin allergies, oh and my favorite----I get YEAST INFECTIONS ON MY NIPPLES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You think having a VaJAYJAY yeast infection is bad, you have seen nothing until you see it on your nipples...positively gross, and itches like.........My doctor said the last time he saw one that bad was on a patient that was "breast feeding twins" I get it once a year, so they have just stocked me up with the creams. I have to mix TWO prescrtiption creams in my hand and apply 3 times a day for 2 weeks.....they work which is good. BTW I did try the Caledula Cream and it did nothing............the vit E sopportories will always be my BFF!

I am in peri, but had dryness off and on for the past 3 years. Initially started with Premarin cream, which I must be allergic too..my labia swell up horribly on it and burn. Then tried Estrace cream, the same. Started Vagi-Fem along with my Vivelle a few months ago and things have gotten a lot better, but at certain times in the month the dryness is worse than others. Vitamin E suppositories are a godsend..I even sometimes use one during the day with a panti-liner along with the night-time one as it seems to help the burning. And..another thing. When it gets real dry, I use either extra virgin olive oil or coconut oil all around the outside, which really feels good and doesn't burn. It's messy, but with the panti-liner no problem. I even use the oils as a lube for sex sometimes...Kim

I also have suffered, SUFFERED is the word with this dryness , tickle thing.

Heres my solution.

I did try the vit E supp. and they did work but I found something even better.

CALENDULA OINTMENT Is made from all natural marigolds and it is 50 times stronger than the Vit E its easy to find or you can google it by Hylands.
I rub this up there all nice and massaged in well.
After every tinkel and its so soothing and healing.
I also have used replens, now some gals have complained about it saying it gives a bit of a discharge but to me it works.
You can google cause we cant give out websites MOONMAIDBOTANICALS this gal is heaven sent and has a slave called Vitalvulva and yeastguard all great ingred. no meds in them.

I also used to be prone to bladder spasms and tinkel problems so I stopped all coffee, sodas and drink only cranberry juice the sugarless kind if possible and orange juice.

I drink teas like cranberry mixed with uva ursi, I make my own concoction with tea bags or I buy bulk.
I also add corn silk these help with the pee pee problem

I also found a great supplement with cranberry and a whole host of lovely things in it called CRANACTIN by solaray.
This is great because they have found that cranberry doesnt let bacteria stick to the uretha and also for plaque not to stick to arteries you can google this info on your own.

Well I sure hope you will consider this stuff especailly THE CALENDULA it has saved my life.

God bless you all,
Tinks

My Vitamin E suppositories arrived today....

Yeah !

ENJOY THEM!!!!!

How often do you use them? When I first got them I used them every night - for about 10 nights. Now I'm using them every other night (about a week). I'm thinking of trying to use them every 3 - 4 days. Any advice?

Just got 'em...but my plan is use them 3 nights weekly....

(feeling better already )

Hi Ladies,

I replied to another thread about this subject last week but got no reply. I had all the same symptoms, thought I had a bladder infection, burning, went to gyno, no infection

gave me some cream, then a friend told me to use Summer's Eve bath & shower gel. It worked. I feel so much better. I use the one for sensitive skin, I will not take

a shower without it. Give it a try and let me know if it helps, it can't hurt and its better then all those creams the doctors give us.

OMG she told you to use summer's eve & shower gel. UNLESS MY FRIEND HAD VAGINAL ATROPHY----she knows NOTHING!!!!! First of all a DOUCHE is just a horrible/un natural fix if that for Vaginal Atrophy..and I cannot even get close to my VaJJJ with anything but baby shampoo...unless your using something totally organic without TALLOW and all the other bad things in OTC shower gel......you just assume its helping. If Douche & shower gels worked, we'd all have used them a long time ago.....everyone who has this horrible problem...has exhausted ALL methods...until we found the vitamin e supooostories. Its the same story with our doctors until you've actually experienced the burning, itching & serve inability to even walk because of the vaginal pain........no one can offer help...unless they have been there. I highly suggest you hang up your DOUCHE & GEL......its only a temporary fix and all the chemicals in there will end up irritating it worse in the long run. Your vagina is in a very fragile state right now and anything thats not natural is going to tip the scale AWAY from relief.

I know this is a very horrible thing to expierence I have dealt with it for over 12 or more years, sigh.

Now I do find that the summers eve Sensitive Wash NOT DOUCHE I AGREE NOT DOUCHE helps keeping the ol girl clean, so much better than regular soap.

Now if you really want to try something even more powerful and helpful is CALENDULA OINTMENT by Hylands,

It is made from marigolds.

The other thing out there is by Refresh which puts back the ol girls acidity I believe.

What also works for me is REPLENS now some girls havent liked it but it works for me.

Very important dont wear tight pants, make sure the pantys are cotton ON THE CROUCH, stay away from those thong things because the bacteria from the back area (if you know what I mean) can travel to the front, yep it can.

Drink plenty of fluids, when you put the calendula ointment or vit E massage it in real real good , carefully but massage it.

I drink SUPER CRANACTIN supplements made from cranberry and it keeps it in check I buy the solaray brand.
The cranberry has been known to keep the bacteria from adhering to the uretha.

Yogurt especailly the ACTIVIA kind,

Probiotics Acidophlus.

All this works very well you just have to try and see what works for you.

I was given a hormone cream prescription and said no way jose and am glad I made this choice for myself.

Now others have to use it and thats why it isnt a one fix for everyone.

Hope this helps,

Tinks

I'm sorry but Summer's EVE regardless of Sensitive or any other type contains HORRIBLE inrgediants including Ammonium Laureth Sulfate,Red dyes #33, disodium Cocamphodiacetate and a host of other CHEMICALS. Exactly why would this be a good thing for any VAGINA??? Baby shampoo seems to have been the most natural......and there are several very good alternatives for soap. Even before I developed Atrophy...My OBGYN had told me for years & years that using OTC douche's ere bad for your natural vaginal bacteria because of all the bad chemicals....your vagina is naturally clean, unless your NOT! Its very important to look atn the ingredient list of these products and educate yourself on what they are..you will be surprised.

My doc recommended using just water in that sensitive area. I've been using nothing but water to wash there for the past couple of years.

Excuse me I did not say Summers Eve DOUCHE, I said shower gel, soap, I assume you use that. It is for sensitive skin we all need to use soap. And I did suffer

from vaginal dryness on and off for years. I'm 56 years old, been going through this for years, I'm not crazy this really did help me, so if you choose not to

believe me so be it. Oh and by the way I would never answer someone the way you did. I was just trying to give my feelings on this subject, but I guess I'll keep

my opinion to myself from now on.

The ingrediants I posted were for the SHOWER GEL. I'm sorry you took it the wrong way....I did not mean to offend you. My apologies. If this works for you then thats awesome, anything that works for anyone is GREAT......I just wanted to include infor about what they really put into these products that may not be vagina friendly. I am extremely cautious about ingrediants I put into my mouth and especially up there

Hi girls

I haven't posted for a while. I've been trying all sorts of alternative therapies to try to fix this da**ed vaginal atrophy. I'm using Ovestin cream and the doctor has offered me HRT but I want to see if there is anything else that will work before I go down that road (unless someone can guarantee that HRT will cure it!)

I'm taking all sorts of vitamin supplements - vit E (orally), evening primrose and Omega 7, which claims to be specifically good for vaginal dryness. I even tried magnet therapy for a month but I gave that up as I got fed up wearing it - don't think it helped much either.

The thing that might be helpful is homeopathy. I wondered if anyone else has tried this? I went to see a homeopath a month ago and she prescribed a pill. I'm sceptical but open-minded about homeopathy, if that makes sense. The strange thing is that I have been having bouts of flu-like symptoms since I took the pill - every few days I get really chilled, then feverish. It doesn't last long. I spoke to the homeopath and she said this was great news as it meant that the remedy was working. No-one was more surprised than me to discover that the remedy had any effect on me and I am having to accept that perhaps homeopathy might work. It's a slow process for chronic conditions though and could take weeks or months. Mind you, I've been using estrogen cream for months and it hasn't fixed it so maybe I shouldn't expect any more from homeopathy!

I have also taken up Tai Chi for relaxation and the exercises I have learned are really useful, as I can use them if I feel myself getting anxious or stressed.

Has anyone else tried any alternative therapies and have they beens uccessful?

Puddock,
You might get better results with Estrace Estradiol Cream. Estradiol seems to be more effective than estriol.

I use the estriol on my face for wrinkles

When this first began in 2001, having a vast knowledge of heath & nutrition(being in the industry for 17 years) I tried several homepathic things--the last thing I wanted to do was go on HRT. OMG I drank some of the worst...things...trying to modify my body's PH level which seems to be an aggitator of VA. I also tried several very expensive organic ointments & creams from the UK and other countries....there was NOT one thing I wouldn't ry. I never tried Tai Chi because I was a body builder in 2001, so my daily routine was a 5 mile run, 45 min, areobics and 2 hours of heavy cross training every day 7 days a week... of course all of this came to a slamming alt, with the VA.....its hard to run when your vagina is on fire......I then tried both premarin & Estrace creams....they didn't help.....I have always taken supplements....so I stilkl take about 15 a day including Primrose, Bcomlex, Black current, tons of flax seed, Lemon Bioflavinoids.....and many more...The Hormone creams did not work, the Replenz did not work.......My doctor told me my VA was too far gone. I hadn't had sex in years---so the muscle really atrophed....which makes sense..USE IT OR LOSE IT---they are not joking.....your Vagina needs to be exercised otherwise it will atrophy....to bad for me since I haven't had a relationship 9 years. The ONLY thing that really workked was the VITAMIN E SUPPOSTORIES......if it were not for them, I would have went nutz. Yes I went on HRT in 2003--and that really helped with the heart palpitations, dental ache, mood swings etc....and it did help with the VA...but severe stress & bad food will make it flare up on occassion---and those supposotries always save the day. I wuill never be without them. Who knew for less than 10$ I could be pain free

Sariah - I remember you suggested this before. I don't know if it's prescribed here in the UK but I am going to see the gynae next month and I will ask her about it. Thanks

Buffy - these vitamin E suppositories sound like magic . I can't remember if I asked you before but did you have mainly external symptoms or, like me, irritation more in the abdomen being the main thing? I can see how the vit E would help dryness down below but not so sure it would help my deep inflammation. Sorry if I'm being dumb here The only other thing about the suppositories is that as I'm using the estrogen cream I'm not sure if they'd work together...

But I will definitely give them a go if you think they'd suit me (if I can get them here in the UK)

I have high hopes of the homeopathy. I like the homeopath and trust her and she is confident that she can help me so I'm going with it, keeping my fingers crossed and hoping for a good result in a few months.

First of all, I would like to THANK all of you for the great information, help, tips and relief I have gotten from these message boards ... even though I wish none of us have to be going through any of this, it is comforting to know that I'm not alone in what I have been experiencing and I'm not imagining it and that there still is hope ...

I do have a few quick questions ... what type of food can trigger a flare up? I try to watch my diet and only drink water ... I do think that I have noticed that if I eat too much sugar it can cause an issue, so I have limited my sugar intake ... but what else should I stay away from? ... I also find that when I'm overly stressed, my symptoms/discomfort can flare ... is there anything that I can take or any suggestions on what I can do to help me in the stress department? ...

Thank you all again for your help and for being there ...

For me its too much sugar or bad carbs(cake, ice cream--holiday food) I am a VEGAN, so eating this stuff can trigger an entire population of bad things, but I notice more burning & vaginal pain when I eat this stuff.

I agree completely. The vitamin e suppositories have eased all my symptoms. I used them for 10 nights straight at first & now only use them as needed (about 2 x a week). It's amazing! I highly recommend them. I had been suffering for about a year . . . they work.

I'm crying as I read these posts. Crying from va JJ pain yes, but mostly because I'm relieved to see all of my crazy symptoms written in everyone elses posts. I can't believe that I often forget to come to read the posts more often here.I guess when you're feeling good you can get cocky and think it's going to last forever. WRONG! Anyway,not gonna let that happen again.I just finished a round of antibiotics, the first round was for a kidney infection(10 days), the second was for a uti
( a one dose powder called Monural)that didn't work and basically fried my vaginal insides I was then given levaquin for 4 more days only to find

[quote name='sweatsville' date='Feb 25 2009, 01:11 PM' post='269939']
I'm crying as I read these posts. Crying from va JJ pain yes lol, but mostly because I'm relieved to see all of my crazy symptoms written in everyone elses posts. I can't believe that I often forget to come to read the posts more often here.I guess when you're feeling good you can get cocky and think it's going to last forever. WRONG! Anyway,not gonna let that happen again.I just finished a round of antibiotics, the first round was for a kidney infection(10 days), the second was for a uti
( a one dose powder called Monural)that didn't work and basically fried my vaginal insides I was then given Levaquin for 4 more days only to find

Oops I must have typed the wrong button and sent my post off before I was finished. While on the Monural I noticed that my bladder felt funny and so did everything else as though I was carrying a pound of lead in there.Just didn't feel right.They put me on Levaquin for 4 days and now I am in constant pain, with burning, frequent urgency to pee,vaginal dryness, and bladder spasming.I am also a urological patient with a history of kidney stones. Any time anything feels painful or weird downstairs I start to freak out, it's no picnic when your health starts to slide downward.I have a follow up apt with the urologist today , they'll test my urine to see if the antibiotics have eliminated the infection.The urologist prescribed Estrace cream which was a lifesaver back in the fall.But after all the antibiotics
I've been in menopuase for 4 years now & I'm 51. Started going into peri at age 40 and was on natural progesterone cream for 10 years with great success for most of my symptoms.I also had acupuncture and Chinese herbs during this time as well.The past year I was on herbs alone and occasional use of Estrace last fall.
THis is the fist time though that (after reading here)anyones mentioned the detrimental effects of antibiotics on the vagina in as far as the antibiotics causing a miserable and even excruciating form of internal dryness.You girls may have just solved my problem! So I'm sending a big thanks and a bunch of hugs.Can you buy the vita E suppositories at a drugstore or do I need a prescription for them?
We called a compounding pharmacy to see if they carried the suppositories but they said no.I'll try Walgreens to see if they have it as well.
I don't know what the urologist will find* in there* if he thinks we ought to an exam but I am pretty sure now after all the info I've read here it's a severe case of
vaginal atrophy.Hopefully once I get a hold of the suppositories life will start looking a little better.

the situation with me when this all began in 2002, was I had yeast infection(I really didn't it was the VA) so they put me on Difluecan, which cause a bladder infection...so they gave me bactrim..I still have a trash bag filled with 37 perscription drugs they put me on in 139 days--before concurring it was peri menopause & VA. My doctor also realized that it was a catch 22-that one "so called infection" was causing the other, so we did a test----no matter how much I pleaeded he did NOT give me any drugs for the so called bladder infection.....guess what after 5 days it would just go a way........but honestly save yourrself the pain, frustration and uncertaintity-buy a box of vitamin E supposotorries and set yourself free.....they are a god send, very cheap, not messy and very quick fix to something that has obviously caused u so much pain for years. wer'e all with u...because we have all been there. Just because I no longer have the pain(due to using the Vit e suppostorie every week) doesn;t mean I don;t have VA

Thankfully I found the e suppositories at a local healthfood store. They really do work! I almost felt normal last night and slept like a baby without being in pain! Had to use another one this morning and I'll keep using them until I figure out what else to do. They put you on 37 different drugs?
How ridiculous is that! I almost kinda wish certain doctors would have to experience pain the way we patients do.Their thinking would be oriented in totally different direction.

Yes, I tried this ointment E+WAY before I tried the vitamin E(infact I still have the oitment in my VA drawer) it burned and did not help me at all. I had Vaginal Atrophy very badly, my doctor said my vagina had the texture of a "weathered base ball glove" so I think it depends on what stage of VA u have too. Also The calendula cream is NOT FOR INTERNAL USE...after I used it, I checked with 4 Homeopathic doctors and they said YES its a good oitment, but they said they would use great caution using ity on vaginal tissue. However if it worked for you thats great!!! whatever works........I'm sticking to Vitamin E---those are specifically for insertion--& they have saved my quality of life greatly.

Just to add to all of my bad spelling(LOL) what I have tried:
Calendura cream
Replenz
2 different ointments from the UK
premarin cream
estridol cream
someother hormone cream I can't remember
drinking vinegar in water every day to help with the PH(this is the grossest thing ever)
many OTC creams, pills, gels, pads etc

what worked:
Vitamin E supposotories
primrose oil caps
vitaminB 2 x aday
Flex seed oil-1 Tablespoon a day
Lemonbioflavoids(the real ones--not vitamin see with mixed ones...just the lemon) I actually use this for Menieres disease but it has helped the VA too
Black currant
Acidophilus
and of course
Vitamin C-liquid
be-complex
Magnesium(chelated only)
and of course I am on HRT

What will trigger mine:
STRESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!(you know when you get upset, nervous or mad..how you can feel it in your stomach.....mine goes straight to the VAJJ)
Bad food: simple carbs: ice cream, cookies etc
Fruit juice

Hope this info helps someone....

I've tried some of the same stuff as Buffy. Replens made itch & burn like crazy,KY warming gel was just OUCH!!!,calendula cream also burned But those Vita E suppositories are like heaven on earth, lol.I've taken as many as 3 day the past few days just to combat the dryness.

The primrose oil caps are suposed too help with hotflashes too. Didn't do a dang thing for me in as far as helping dryness,but sure did make my hair hair greasy as heck.
I definitely want to try some of those other supplements that you mentioned though. Does the Vita C make it burn at when you tinkle?Lately I'm afraid to have anything vinegary or sour because of how it feels when it comes back out.
I have a spray under the tongue form of vita B but I never use it.( too lazy) But....Since you've had success with it I'm gonna try and start to use it more often.And you are soooooo right about stress agggravating the va JJ!
Before I came to this website and found out about vita e suppositories loud music and getting aggravated caused the pain to intensify. Weird huh

the primrose
black current b-6
magnesium
are all great perimenopause supplements, they really help. I try to take extra BEFORE my cycle begins..the rest I just take daily. Viamin C has never made my urine burn.....remember all vitamin c & B's are water soluable so when u pee they tend to leave the body thats why I take them 3 times a day and I take most of my calicum before bed time because u lose 55 mag calcium everytime u pee, and I go alot.

since last oct. I had huge problems with recurring UTI's. I had two big UTI infections and in between, felt residual symptons of full bladder, urge to go, dryness, etc. I never felt normal for 4 months I was on antibiotics five times and finally my gyno told me I had to see a urologist. So first went my primary care and she was great--she listened to my symptons and then said I might be in peri (am 53 and still have period). So she did blood work and yes, I'm in peri. She said it would be good idea to see a urologist and also see gyno again to talk about trying Premarin, or something similar.

So, in the check-up with the urologist, he asked me how much fluids I drank in a day. I told him I always drank a lot of water throughout the day. But I still had all these uncomfortable symptons. He said he could do a procedure, a dilation, I think, which might help. But first, he stressed again the drinking of fluids. He asked me again how much I drank. The more I thought, the more I realized that I had cut back on drinking water during all these symptoms because it was a hassle to pee all the time. He gave me two weeks to drink 2 liters of fluid a day and if my symptoms didn't go away, he would do the procedure.

So I started drinking 2 or more liters of water/day; about 8 to 10 glasses. It was amazing! My symptoms went away in a week. I feel great, my bladder and vagina feel normal. No more urges, no more dryness. I think my body was in a vicious cycle after the initial UTI back in Oct. I never quite got over it, but kept taking antibiotics, which dried out my vagina, etc. The urologist said I needed to flsuh out the infection with fluids, not antibiotics.

So I'm still drinking 10- 8 oz. glasses of water daily. Not only have symptoms disappeared, but my skin has improved and I have a lot more energy. The simple power of water! And it's cheap!

You know I ordered a salve from moonmaidbotanicals and it had calendula ointment in it along with other lovely things and yes the burning on the outside of the vagina is the place to use this stuff, but after going to a gazillion docters and reading up on it I found places that said its ok to use it up there to.
So I am glad that you are cautious but you know it heals, and I am now down to probably only needing it right before my period so it isnt an everday thing.
I think we know our bodies and sometimes we hit on things that work. I have been using it for a few years now and it healed me.
So take care and glad you are doing well.
I say always be careful but when you havent had results with anything else , its worth a try.
God bless
Tinks

I wish it was that simple for me....I have ALWAYS drank 13-18 glasses each day. Since I am vegan and into nutrition I NEVER drink anything BUT water, ever! My peri started just like yours but at age 41(i am now 53 & still having periods but very little ones) I had so many UTI's & Yeast infections in a 139 days that they had me on 27 different drugs(I still have the hefty bag of empty boxes)--finally after being given premphase(HRT) and after trying zillions of things and finally trying the vitamin E suppotory save me. I think it makes a difference on how much VAGINAL ATROPHY you have and what degree. There is a VAST difference between DRYNESS and VA. Comparing the two is like comparing Dry skin without lotion to having a Vagina in the state of DEATH VALLEY. I used that anaology with quite a few of my doctors, since their opinions were everyone in peri has dryness----as I told them...big difference between the TWO. BTW, I will NEVER take antibiotics---NEVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!they are devil(LOL) as far as I am concerned when dealing with Vaginal health. PS EVERYONE NO MATTER WHAT SHOULD ALWAYS DRINK TONS OF WATER! IT'S NATURE'S BEST KEPT SECRET TO GREAT SKIN, NAiLS, HAIR & YOUR BODY

Thanks juliey for this hint . I am going to go and pour a large glass of water right now!

Like you, I thought I drank plenty of water but now that I really think about it I'm not so sure. So I'll try your doc's suggestion for a couple of weeks and see if it helps.

Thanks!

I agree with you. I was suffering from recurring UTI's and vaginal dryness (maybe from Peri and too many antibiotics). I don't think I have Vaginal Atrophy. I'm glad you've found someting for your VA. And I also agree with you about the dangers of being on antibiotics. I guess they are good to get rid of the initial infection, but anything lingering can perhaps be aided by drinking lots of fluid, to flush it out and Vitamin E suppositories and other cremes (either OTC or HRT).

I am so glad I found this forum. I can't wait to get to reading all the posts. And i'm definitly going to get some vit e. Thank you!

That is one problem I don't have yet!

So where else is a gal going to go at 3 am in the morning when she wakes up from searing pain due to dryness issues? Power Surge of course!
I've been doing great since I was last here until recently.I've finally realized that I cannot and should not ever get too comfortable when I'm feeling good thereby reducing the amounts of Estrace and Vita E suppositories.I don't know about you girls but when I'm feeling good I cut back on my doses because I figure who needs to do all that maintenance work especially if things seem fine down there.What I've learned though ( the hard way this time however) is that although the changes seem subtle enough, never ever take for granted that things won't change for the worse and catch you off guard and then whamo, the pain is back full force! It seems like about every 3 to 4 months the pain of dryness can return without much warning because of course you've been feeling so great you get comfy and slack off thinking you don't need to use the products/meds as much. So this is as much a cautionary tale tale as much as anything.Don't be knucklehead like me and end up having to put yourself through the torture of having to get back to a place of healing again.I have found this recent bout of dryness to be very upsetting, anxiety causing and physically painful.Even though I check dryness levels once a week apparently theres slightly moist conditions inside and then OMG it's too late it's not moist enough conditions.This time it was a fine line because everything felt ok but really lowering doses to almost nothing was kinda dumb.Maybe even after all these years I still don't really except that this is how it's going to be for the rest of my life, as in menopause is here to stay.Having periods seems alomost like a picnic in the park compared to the hassles and aggravation of menopause. I'm back on estrace twice per day as well as vitamin e suppositories 2 times per day .I've also found that I need to avoid things like coffee, ketchup, vinegars and spices because they are aggravating the pain in my bladder and when I have to pee.Tonite the pain was so bad that I rummaged through the medicine cabinet trying to find an old prescription from surgery to help with it.Out of desperation I took 1 oxycodone to help with the pain and sat on an ice pack for 15 minutes too.The oxy is making me feel slightly nauseated and sweaty so that wasn't one of my more brilliant moves but it did get rid of the intense pain. So 3 hours later at 6:00 am in the morning I am ever again so very thankful for this website and all the helpful advice that it provides.
The main thing though is to keep up with your medicines and supplements.I say this to all of you as well as to myself, be ever vigilant so this kind of thing doesn't happen to you.Maintaining menopause symptoms requires persistence and dedication.I'm learning this the hard way the past few days...

Oh, I would NEVER go off my HRT or vitamin E suppostories, just for the fact that I am pretty sure it could reverse and go back to way it was before and I do NOT want to go through that HELL again..NO NO NO.....It just ***** because I am almost 54 & still have periods, although now they are only 3 days & quite small...but the HRT was the only thing that helped me with the VA....and then of course the Vitamin E....Yeah I was worried about the HRT, because naturally AFTER I began to take them, they came out with the HORROR stories...well heres my NEWSFLASH....I would rather chance it and live another 15 years PAINFREE then live another 40 Not being able to walk, move or do anything but cry because the burning, the ache, the itching & discomfort is so bad I want to die.

Well said Buffy! I may have had to learn not to mess with my meds the hard way this time but I'll never do it again! Can I ask what HRT system are on you on? is it bioidentical or or traditional HRT? You've probably talked about it before here or in another thread but I'm thinking if this round of heavy dosing the e suppositories, estrace cream and herbal menopause supplements doesn't work then I am committed to going to the next level. No woman should have ever to live with this insane kind of pain & discomfort. I'd be willing to take other or extra estrogen products if they are bio identical.With the high rate of heart disease and deaths in my family I've always tried to be super careful with all that stuff. I'm trying ot read up it as much as possible and of course the forums here are helpful with info. The fact that you've suffered with the same symptoms that I have and have been able to manage and overcome the problems this makes me you a very credible source of info! So when you get a chance if you have any other things of interest that you think would be helpful let me know, ok!I figure if things don't get noticeably better within a certain amount of time at least when I go to the gyn I can be armed with info that I got here.

I am on standard HRT..I cried when I had to on traditional HRT..but I tried Biodentical, herbal etc for 129 days....& nothing helped, infact I drank some of the worse CRAP I ever tasted trying to deal with this naturally. I didn't like the ESTRACE because everything I read said it only has a 12 hour body life which means I would have to take it twice a day, its hard enough with ALL the meds I have to take to have to remember HRT 2 times a day. I prayed I could do it naturally but my VA was too far gone... to be frank my VAGINA was a mess....trying to use replenz on it, was like trying to put out a wild fire with a squirt gun.....even after years on HRT I still get occasional flair ups..after periods, if I eat really bad food, if I wear pants too tight....but those Vitamin E suppostories saved me from all of that.